This chapter describes the genealogy of Saul and the Benjaminites.
“Ner was the father of Kish, Kish of Saul, Saul of Jonathan… and Eshbaal (Ish-Bosheth); and the son of Jonathan was Merib-baal (Mephibosheth); and Merib-baal was the father of Micah. The sons of Micah: …and Ahaz. Ahaz fathered Jehoaddah, and Jehoaddah fathered Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri fathered Moza. Moza fathered Binea; Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son, [Eshek] his son. The sons of Eshek…: Ulam… The sons of Ulam were men who were mighty warriors, bowmen, having many sons and grandsons, 150” (v33-40 abr)
The main troubles with genealogies in scripture is most have gaps, and many people have two different names. Between those two obstacles, it’s very difficult to ascertain exactly where a family came from, and where their descendants went. Saul’s family tree is no exception. All we really know is he descended from Benjamin (Jacob’s youngest) and all of his recorded descendants are through Jonathan, David’s dear friend.
Why was Jonathan’s line the only one of note? Possibly because he loved God with all of his heart, and he loved David more closely than a brother. When Jonathan was killed in battle, David made arrangements to look after his descendants out of brotherly love.
Do you have any friends you love more closely than a sibling? I can think of a few people in my life. Of course this doesn’t mean we don’t love our genetic siblings (if we have any), it means God has gifted us with many people to love and support in addition to our blood relatives – many of these people are (or will be) our brothers and sisters in Christ.
I encourage us all to develop and grow these relationships in our lives. God designed us to be dependent on Him, and on each other. He did not design us to be ‘one-person shows’ that can do everything on our own with no support whatsoever (despite what the world tells us). Let’s love the Lord our God and love our neighbors like ourselves.
Father God, our Glorious Lord, holy, holy, holy is Your name. We praise You for the loving support You give through Your Holy Spirit, and through those around us. Thank you for all the times a friend encourages us, or a mentor guides us deeper into relationship with You. May You be honored in the way we love others, and may those who are not yet Your children come to love You as we do. All of this we pray in the name of Jesus, who loves all of us selflessly, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training